Lewis Hamilton closes gap on Max Verstappen with Qatar Grand Prix victory

Sporting a rainbow helmet in support of the LBGTQ+ community, a gesture criticised by the 2022 Qatar World Cup chief executive, Hamilton cantered to a win to move within seven points of Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton celebrates victory at the Qatar Grand Prix (Darko Bandic/AP).

Lewis Hamilton stormed to a lights-to-flag victory in the desert – winning the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix to close the gap on Formula One championship rival Max Verstappen to just eight points.

With arguments, press conference sideshows, grid penalties, and questions over even racing in a country with a poor history of human rights dominating the build-up to Sunday’s race, it was Hamilton who put on a show under the floodlights of the Losail International Circuit.